Eyeshield or visor



Junes, 194s. V C. PPPPPP 2,377,645

EYESHIELD. OR VISOR Filed Feb. "i, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToR.

June s, 194s.V cj... PPPPPP 2,317,645

EYESHIELD 0R vIso-R .Fi1ed.Feb. '7, 1942 2l sheets-sheet 2 I y curve haz/ng lwri mdiws.

cura/e, kann# on? radius.

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mvENTlL Patented June 5, 1945 I UNITED ESTATE PATENT OFFICE a claims.

, This inventionrelates to eye-shields or vizors of the: type used` by workmen` in various industries, Sportsmen, automobilists and the like, for the purpose of` protecting the `eyes from the glarel ofthe sun or, very strong lighting. This application` is a continuaticn-in-part ofmy co-pending application, Ser. No. 308,799 ledDecember 12,1939.` n

Heretofore., most vizors or eye-shields `o1' this general character `have beencomposed ot a crescent-shaped section of material, often of colored transparent nature and sometimes opaque. The body-of the eye-shield or vizor thus constructed` is in somecases, held in position on thelforehead of the wearer by means of astrap or tying string extending around the back of the headand in other instances-the vizor was incorporated in the peak or brim of a hat, capr or other suitable article of headwear.` v i y i In vizors of prior construction, the crescent shape of the same failed to provideadequate eye protection since the curved, or upwardly extending, lower edge of the vizor tended to cross the line Iof vision `of the wearer, particularlyat the protect the wearer from the raysof light at the sides. i

" The primary object therefore, of the present invention, `is to provide a vizor in which the line of vision is `at jno time interrupted and by which adequate `protection for `the eyes,` whether looking of` the` vizor whichs `made substantially of the same` width for its entire lengthsolthat the por-.v4

tionsof the same at the sides of the head of the wearer do not have their lower edge curving up- 'wardly,` or in any way obstructing the vision, and

they serve i to provide areas at the sidesof the head through which the vision may be directed and. which will adequately protect th'eeyesight.

A vizor of the character described is particu-` larly useful for` workmen seated adjacent one` amather` at abenchor table and employingstrong` lights. The glare of said lights often disturbs an adjacent workman." `This isespecially true of watchmakeraengravers, jewelsetters and others,`

to whom adequate protectioni ofthe eyesis of extreme importance.

Another objectof` thev invention is to provide in; an `eye-shield of `the character described,` a body portion having itsV concave or upper edge of peculiar contour or of sucha uniqueA shape that curvature of the top `edge of the shield is `one which extends onthe continuous arc of a single circle..I-have found that the curvature of thetop edge of an eye-shield on a continuous arc prevents uniform downward extension of thel body of the shield; causes deflectionor distortion ofythefshield and prevents proper protection iccordingly,I an important 'feature of the present invention `resides in the formation of an `eyestraight ahead or cast. to one side is assured. I `attain this desired result primarily by the 'shape shieldhavingthe central portion `oi its top edge formed on a relatively small radius while the portions of said edge which fit over the `'temples of the wearer are curved on a larger radius. With this arrangement proper tment ofthe eye-shield is obtained` and the body of the same willextend uniformly downwardand provide a maximum of. protection for the wearer. f v

.Another object of the invention is tol` provide,

in` an eye-shield of the character describedfan` arrangementby which. the shield will be so dise, `posedrelatively to the eyes that the'vision can be` directed either through the body of the shield or below it; in which the lower edge of the body of the shield will` be held away from and out of contact with the. face and ventilation under the shield thereby assured.

"In herein setting forth the description Aof my improved vizor,` I' do not `wish to be understood as limiting the invention to a vizor per se, since f the vizor may be incorporated effectively into the peak or brim of a hat or in any other article of headwear.

Therefore, in hereinafter referring to the vizor I vwish, to be understood as meaning a vizoreither incorporated or not incorpo-1 rated in anarticle ofheadwear.

y In the accompanying drawings.wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown, Fig. 1 isla on the une 4 4 of nig. 3, looking in the direc donor-the arrows; and Fig. 5 is a pian viewer t v i the vizor indicating of thesame. f i

` thejcurvature ofthe top edge In the drawings, I indicates the body portion of,` the vizor, the same being made of any suitable material and preferably of a nexible sheet1 matef' rial of a transparent, semi-transparent or even opaque nature, such as green tinted Celluloid material or the like. It will be understood that the vizor may also be made of any suitable opaque sheet material.

In the form shown, the body portion' I is of arcuate form and has its curved upper edge 2 and curved lower edge 3 extending substantially or very nearly parallel so that the width of the vizor from one of -its angular ends 4 to its opposite angular end 5 is relatively uniform. The body portion I thus provided may be formed with a line of holes I5 or other apertures for the purpose of` ventilation. A vizor body portion of the character shown may be incorporated in the brim or peak of a hat or cap as will be'well understood. When used as a vizor alone without attachment to an article of headwear, I find it desirable to provide straps or fastening elements such as shown at 6. Each of these straps consists of an elongatedstrip or section of suitable sheet material such as Celluloid or the like, or of the same material as that of which the body portion I is composed. Each'strap gradually widensv near its point of junction with the ends of the body portion I and is provided with a tapered end 1 and laterally extending tab portion 8, such end l and tab portion 8 being shaped to provide a notch 9 between them. In securing each of the straps 6 to thebody portion I, the elements 'I and 8 are slightly overlapped at the ends of the body portion and then binding strips ID and II are stitched or otherwise secured about the edges 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the body portion. I and also about the longitudinal edges of the straps 6. This arrangement provides the finished vizor in the form shown in Fig. 3. A buckle I2 is secured on one of the straps and the other strap is passed through itin the conventional way to secure the vizor about the head of the wearer substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

, When the device is worn, it will be seen that the lower edgev 3 of the vizor body portion I extends substantially or very nearly parallel to the upper edge 2 and that the length of the body portion I is sufficient to provide side areas I3 and I4 disposed well in baci; of the eyes and just in front of the ears of the wearer. The lower edge 3 of the vizor isv disposed well below the line of vision of the eyes so that even whenk the eyes are castto one side, the lower edge 3 will not cross the line of vision but the eyes will instead, be directed through the body of the vizor and be thereby well protected from the glare of light. rIherefore, a greater area of vision is provided since the vision v,is not impaired by the lower edge of the vizor sweeping upwardly to cross the eyes asis the case with so-called crescentshaped vizors. At the same time the eyesight is materially protected from side glare since the substantial width of the vizor at the sides of the wearers head provides a broad protective area so that side light glare will not penetrate under the lower edge of the rim'to reach the line of vision. y

In order to cause the top edge of the vizor to fit smoothly and uniformly against the forehead and temples, and 'to cause the vizor to be directed downwardlywithout distortion, so that'th'e lowerl edge of the vizor will be maintained substantially parallel to its top edge, a certain vcurvature of the top edge'2 is necessary. That is to say, I find itdesirable to form the central Aportion of the top edgeof the vizor, or that part locatedbetween the dotted lines A and B in Fig. 5, on a terminate in proximity of the ears of the wearer,

the shield when in position on the head of the curve having a relatively short radius. In the normal vizor, I have found a curve having a ra.- dius of approximately 5"/8 inches to be satisfactory for this portion of the vizor, such portion of the top edge being that fitting around the forehead. The end portions of the top edge 2 of the vizor, or those located between the line B and the line C and between the line A and the line D are curved on a much greater radius. In fact a radius of approximately 11% inches for these portions of the curved top edge of the vizor will be found satisfactory. rIhus, by this peculiar j curvature of the topy edge 2, wherein the central The curvature of the lower edge 3 of the vizor is also of importance in securing the results herein set forth. As indicated in Fig. 5, that portion of the lowerv edge which is located between the lines A and' B, and designated at 20 should be a curve having a radius greater than the radius of the curve of the part ofthe upper edge that isv locatedl between the lines' A and B. I have found an arc of approximately 6% inches satisfactory for this portion of thelower edge. On the other hand, the radius of the curve of those portions which lie between each of the lines A and B and the respective ends Il vand 5 of thev vizor, and which edge parts are indicated at 2|, shouldhave a radius greater than that of the central lower edge portion 20, but considerably less than the radius of the upper edge between the lines A and B and the respective ends 4 and 5 of the vizor. in the areas 2l, a radius of approximately 8% inches has Ybeen found satisfactory. vThis particular combination of curvaturesfor the upper and lower edges of the vizor results in a' vizor capable of efficiently functioning as herein st forth.

' What I have herein described the vizor as separate'and distinct from an article of headwear, 'it will be readily understood thatthe saine may beY easily incorporated in a cap; hat or other article without departing from the spirit of the' invention.

' WhatIk claim is: l v

1. In an eye-shield of the character described,

wherein there is provided a body portion ofsheet material adapted for positioning forwardly and laterally ofthe eyes of the wearer, said bodyy portion having a top edge provided with a central part curved on a relatively'small radius and having end portions of substantially greater radius than that of the arc of the central portion, said' body portion being of a length as to have its vends wearer having the arcuate body portion thereof forwardly and downwardly directed with the lower edge of the body'portion disposed below and" laterally of the eyes, the lower portionV of said shield being out of contact withV the face, the ceng tral portion of the lower edge of the body por`V tion having a greater radius'than the central por.

tionl of the upper edge, and the end 'portions of the lower edge having a smaller radiusl than the;

similar end portions of the upper edge,`

For the curve of the lower edgey 2. An eye-shield for protection from light rays,

lsaid shield consisting of an arcuate section of sheet material, the upper and lower edges ofsaid l shield being curved on lines nearly parallel to one another, the curvature of the upper edge of said shield being Such that the central portion of said radius, while those portions of saidedge located n adjacent to the ends of the shield are curved on a substantially larger radius, whereby the upper edge overlying the forehead is curved on alsmall` n edge of the shield will uniformly fit around the n i forehead and temples and the lower edge of the shield will extend substantially parallel to said top` edge, the curvature of the upper edge of the shield being such that when said edge is in contact with the forehead and temples of the wearer, the re- `15 the upper edge.

Inainder of the shield will extend angularly downward and over the eyes but away fromand out of contact with parts of the face, said shield being of such length that the opposite ends of the shield are disposed in front 0f and adjacent n to the ears of the wearer and the lower edge is spaced away from the face of the wearer, the central portion of the lower edge 'of the body `portion" having a greater radius than the central portion of the upper edge, and the end portions of the lower edge having a greater radius than the radius of the central part of the lower edge,Y said end portions of the lower edge having a smaller radius than the Similar end portions of CHARLES L. PEFFER. 

